eagles « PPL Environmental Preserves

PPL Promotes Growth of Endangered Species’ Populations

May 12, 2012 at 1:37 pm (birds, birds of prey, eagles, Holtwood, Lake Wallenpaupack, Martins Creek, Montour Preserve, Pennsylvania)

Peregrine falcon at Montour

On Friday, May 18th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will observe the 7th annual Endangered Species Day. Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people young and old to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and the everyday actions that people can take to help protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife.

Ospreys, peregrine falcons, eagles and barn owls can be seen soaring throughoutPennsylvania’s skies, thanks to PPL’s efforts to help restore the once-dwindling populations of raptors.

We dedicate resources to enhance habitat for threatened or endangered wildlife and work with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and other conservationists to monitor their progress.

Montour, Wallenpaupack, Martin’s Creek, Holtwood and Allentownall have nesting locations for birds of prey. As part of our license to operate at LakeWallenpaupackand Holtwood, PPL is required to have a Bald Eagle Protection Plan in place. This plan, which is prepared in consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the PA Game Commission, ensures that the development of new recreation facilities do not have a negative effect on the bald eagles. Go to the Birds of Prey webpage to learn more about the birds of prey that have taken up residence at the company’s various locations throughoutPennsylvania

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Eagle Etiquette

April 12, 2012 at 3:54 pm (birds, birds of prey, eagles, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, wildlife)

It is Bald Eagle nesting season. With the growth in the Bald Eagle population in Pennsylvania, nests are appearing closer to human activity. Eagle nests are particularly vulnerable to disturbance early in the season. If an adult eagle is flushed off the nest, the eggs or young are exposed to dangerously cool temperatures and predators. In addition, disturbing an eagle nest is a Federal offense under the Bald and Golden Eagle Act. It is a serious offence subject to large fines. Using binoculars or a spotting scope to watch a bald eagle nest at a distance is fine, but use common sense. If the eagle on the nest exhibits signs of nervousness or discomfort or leaves the nest you are too close. The survival of the eagles is the highest priority. Provide a good example for others to follow and help us protect bald eagles. For more information on bald eagles check the Pennsylvania Game Commission website: http://bit.ly/n9sz2b. You might be interested in printing the Bald Eagle Etiquette handout here: BaldEagleNestEtiquette.

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Holtwood Winter Host to Raptors and “Water Birds”

February 3, 2012 at 6:29 pm (bird count, birds, birds of prey, eagles, Hiking, Holtwood, observations, Pennsylvania)

Look what all there is to see when you spend just a couple hours outside, like Jim Smith did last Saturday. Jim is a consulting naturalist at PPL’s Holtwood and Brunner Island locations. He is also an Audubon member, a board member of the Lancaster County Bird Club, a member of Cornell Lab of Ornithology, American Birding Association, PA Bluebird Society and Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology.

Greetings from Holtwood,
A few hours briefly surveying the [Holtwood Dam, Muddy Run, Wissler Run] areas, under partly sunny skies and 46 degrees, yielded the following raptors and “water birds” :
The Holtwood Dam eagle nest in York Co. showed no signs of activity. One adult bald eagle was on a central tower below the dam. The nest is deep and can only be seen from a good distance, so any eagle low in it would not be observable. Some rock pigeons were flying around the power plant, along with some ring-billed gulls.
Water was very high and pouring over the dam, with the spray making rainbows. I enjoyed watching a flock of about 15 gulls on the water above the dam floating down to the breast, then being catapulted into the air and flying back upriver to rest on the water again. Crossing back into Lanc. Co. via the Norman Wood Bridge I stopped to walk down under the bridge to view the Piney Island eagle nest. An adult was perched on a sycamore branch just above the nest; none visible in the nest. No sign of any peregrine falcons.
Crossing the Muddy Run Pumped Storage reservoir dam, I had canada geese and black ducks along the shoreline on both sides.
Down at Wissler Run Park, not much was happening. A kettle of turkey vultures, with a few black vultures and one bald eagle flew south overhead, one visible rock out on the river held about 20 ring-billed gulls and one greater black-backed.
Returning home along the south side of the reservoir, the eagle nest in the tower in the middle of the reservoir had two bald eagles sitting in it. The best birds of the day there were two groups of pintail ducks, each group, coincidentally, made up of 4 drakes and 2 hens. Also had two ringneck cocks pass across my field of view while checking the pintails.
Along Silver Springs Rd., one eastern bluebird topped a very unproductive day for passerines!
Jim Smith

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Counting Birds

December 27, 2011 at 5:19 pm (bird count, birds, birds of prey, conservation, eagles, Montour Preserve, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania)

The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the Bloomsburg area was held on December 18. PPL’s Montour Preserve is part of that count. This year eight volunteers spent time identifying and counting birds in and around the preserve. The total count for the day was 51 species. Several highlights included two bald eagles, three double-crested cormorants, a goldeneye, a great horned owl, several screech owls and a barred owl. What a difference a year makes! This year’s mild weather allowed for open water on the lake compared to last year’s frigid temperatures and snow.

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Don’t Dive in Shallow Water

October 19, 2011 at 2:19 pm (birds, birds of prey, eagles, Montour Preserve, nature, observations, outdoors, Pennsylvania, wildlife)

Being in the right place at the right time to witness a wildlife drama is always exciting. To witness something unexpectedly out of the ordinary adds another dimension to the experience. With the rise in Pennsylvania’s bald eagle population over the past ten years, seeing a bald eagle is not as rare as it used to be. Here at Montour Preserve’s Lake Chillisquaque, bald eagle sightings have become more frequent through the years. Seeing a bald eagle circling over the lake is not that unusual anymore. Watching an eagle swoop down to snatch a fish is a thrill. But yesterday morning brought something different.

When I arrived at Goose Cove Overlook, I could see an adult bald eagle circling and diving toward something about fifty feet from shore. As the eagle began its dive, there was a splash on the surface of the lake followed by a set of ripples. The eagle broke off its dive just above the water, circled around and the whole thing was repeated again. Although I did not get a close look at the object of the eagle’s hunt, I could tell it was a small diving bird, possible a grebe or coot. The eagle continued to dive toward the bird and it, in turn, continued to disappear underwater just before the eagle would have struck. Again and again the eagle dove, driving the bird into shallower water until the diver could not go under to escape. The eagle splashed down, talons clutching its intended prey. Using its long wings, the eagle “rowed” closer to shore, then took off with its prey for a morning meal.

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The eaglets have landed…at Kipp Island

June 14, 2011 at 2:25 pm (birds of prey, conservation, eagles, fishing, Lake Wallenpaupack, nature, observations, recreation)
Tags: million dollar fish

Recreation enthusiasts and nature-lovers alike have been watching the eagle nest on Lake Wallenpaupack closely all season. Visible now are the two dark brown eaglets in the nest, who are testing out their wing flaps at the nest’s edge and could be experiencing their first flight any time now. If timed right, the lucky observer will see the adult eagles (with the white heads and tails) bringing a fishy snack back to the nest to feed their growing offspring.

Note the restricted area, indicated by buoys and a roped-off perimeter…all for the safety and protection of our nation’s symbol. Access to Kipp Island is restricted during the nesting season, which runs from January 1 through July 31.

I continue to wonder if the million dollar fish became lunch for the eagles… hmmmm…